The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has questioned the legality of the dismissal of Congress MP from Inner Manipur and former JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, alleging that Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit bypassed established procedures and that the confidentiality of a sexual harassment inquiry was compromised.
Akoijam, who taught at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems under JNU’s School of Social Sciences, was dismissed from university service with immediate effect on October 9. The dismissal order cited the findings of the university’s Internal Committee (IC), which recommended major punishment following an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment.
The order stated that the decision was taken after considering the committee’s report and the available facts under applicable service rules, including Rule 11(ix) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules.
In a statement issued on October 11, JNUTA alleged that the Vice-Chancellor had exercised powers vested in the university’s Executive Council. Citing Statute 30 of the JNU Act, the association argued that the dismissal could not be ordered unilaterally without the council’s approval.
JNUTA further claimed that no Executive Council meeting had been convened and that relevant documents had not been circulated to its members before the decision was taken.
The association also expressed concern over the circulation of the dismissal order and the alleged leak of the Internal Committee’s recommendations to the media, arguing that such disclosures violated the confidentiality requirements governing sexual harassment proceedings.
Questioning the framework of the current Internal Committee, JNUTA contrasted it with the university’s former Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH), which, it said, had clearly defined provisions for imposing minor and major penalties.
The association maintained that procedural violations in sexual harassment cases could undermine the pursuit of justice and adversely affect both complainants and the accused. It held the university administration responsible for what it described as repeated disregard for institutional rules.
JNUTA condemned the alleged breach of confidentiality and accused the administration of using the dismissal order for political purposes.